Stabilizing surface for aircraft



G. WEISS STABILIZING SURFACE FOR AIRCRAFT Filed Oct. 31, 1922 alike-144,114,

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GEORG ZEESEN, NEAR KONIGSWUSTERHAUSEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, '10 AMERICAN INVESTIGATION CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

s'rABILI'zInc sonraca non AIRCRAFT.

,A pplication filed October 31, 1922. Serial No. 598,072.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, GEORG WEIss,'a cit-izen of the Republic of Germany (whose "post address is Zeesen, near Konigswusterhausen, Germanyyfha've'invented new and useful Improvements in Stabilizing Surfaces for Aircraft, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

Airships' with stabilizing and rudder planes or surfaces which are rigid in themselves and in which staying or stiffening means are located in the interior of this structure in similar manner as in l the supporting planes'of flying machines,'are known. Said stabilizing'and rudder planes are usually held in position by stiffening means arranged outside of the hull of the ship and are, therefore, pivotally connected to .the latter. Said stiffening means, however, give rise to a considerable resistance of the air.

My invention relates to a new stabilizing plane for lighter than air crafts and the main object of my invention is to remedy this defect by avoiding all and any stiffening means outside ofthe hull structure.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in'r'the detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of thestabili'zing planes. Figs. 2 to l are cross-sections of the stabilizing planes shown in Figure 1, but varying in some details of construction within the scope of my invention. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail views of the enlarged portions of a frame member. In Figure 2 the frame members a are diametrically inserted within the transverse girders 7) of the air craft and connected with the latter directly at the points at and further by means of stays c which preferably may be wires. Just as the connectpivotal points or rigid points, they act to transmit to the tranverse girders 7) either compressive stresses only or compressive stresses and bending moments combined.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate two modifications, wherein the frame members a are rigidly connected with the transverse irders b. In both cases the inner ends 0 the frame members a are enlarged in order to better receive the bendin ig. 4 the enlarge-Q gangway f, it being preferable in such a case to dispense with the latter in the interior of the hull above the lower stabilizing surface, whereby the advantage of a considerable decrease of weight is ensured.

Moreover the thus constructed stabilizing plane is in particular adapted for the provision of a footplate or a place g for steersman to stand particularly for reserve purposes. This advantage is the more important for the reason that the rudder controlling cables may be given in this case a possibly least length only whence, the possibility. or probability of their being rendered un' serviceable or destructed, e. g. through projectiles or in case of fracture 'of the "framework, diminishes in accordance with the reduced length thereof. Regarding the usual reserve place for steersman to stand as hitherto arranged and provided in about one third of the length of the ship the reserve stand above suggested represents a noticeable advance in the art.

From the foregoing description it will'be seen that simple and etficient means are herein provided for accomplishing the objects of my invention, but while the elements shown and described are well adapted to serve the purposes for which they are invented, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction set forth, but includes within its purview such changes as may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is z- 1. In a lighter than air craft, girder frame members and stabilizing planes comprising hollow tapering frame members rigidly secured to the girder frame members.

2. A lighter than air craft, 'comprisin a body having transverse annular gir er frame members, and provided with a fore and aft tunnel, and hollow stabilizing planes comprising outwardly extended and taperrectly and rigidly secured to the annular ing members, having their enlarged bases girders, the forward end of the stabilizer directly and rigidly secured to the transafiording a free space for the pilot. verse girders, one of said hollow stabilizers In witness whereof, I have hereunto sub- 5 forming an ofiset extension of the tunnel. scribed my name in presence of two wit- 15 3. A lighter than air craft, comprisin a mass. hull frame having transverse annular gir er GEORG WEISS. frames and a hollow stabilizer comprising Witnesses:

downwardly projecting and tapering frame E. HOLTZEBMAN, 10 members having their enlarged bases di- 0. 

